Polka Dot Pizzaz PILLOW INSTRUCTIONS
This is a delightfully easy project that takes only a couple hours.
I opted to make my pillow 32" W x 18" H" because
-
I only had one yard of this wonderful polka dot fabric, and
-
I didn't want friends and family to see a larger pillow -- one of those body-sized things --and assume I had simply purchased it somewhere.
To make a pillow like this one, you will need:
-
1 yard of fashion fabric
-
If the fabric is thin, you will need 2 old king-size pillowcases.
-
1/2 yard of a contrasting fabric for your unique piping bias tape
-
approx. 3 yards of lightweight rope or cording for the binding (I used Paracord from HobbyLobby which was purchased a few months ago for craft projects with my granddaughter. It was $4.99 for a 50-foot package. I would have liked to have had a slightly thicker cording, but my goal was to work as efficiently and inexpensively as possible with this project. Using what I have on hand is mandatory!)
-
1 1/2 packages of Poly-fil or other filler (Go ahead and buy the 2 full bags You can use the remaining 1/2 bag for a smaller accent pillow or a softie toy!)
-
thread
EASY INSTRUCTIONS
1. Square up your fashion fabric. Iron it and measure it, then cut to the size you want.
2. My fabric was thin, so I decided to use old pillow cases to cover the Fiberfill. I found two king-size lace-trimmed pillowcases which have been yellowing in my linen closet for 10 years. These were perfect! I cut off the lace at the hemline -- will use these on my next pillow. Then, I carefully cut one long seam and the shorter seam of both pillows. I pinned this "vintage" fabric to my cut fashion fabric to match size, then trimmed.
3. Create piping bias tape for your seams:
a. Measure your fabric to figure out the length of piping you will need. My pillow was 18" x 32", so I needed 18" x2 plus 32" x2, or 100", or 2.77 yards.
b. Cut lengths of the contrasting fabric. My cording was medium weight, so I cut my fabric strips 1 1/2" wide. This was more than adequate for medium cording and should probably work well for larger cording, too. Again, I created about 3 yards of these strips.
c. Iron each of the strips.
d. Cut cording to the length you need. I cut 3 yards for this pillow.
e. Sew the fabric strips together into one continuous strip. Miter the edges together for a clean look.
f. Fold as you sew: fold the fabric strip in half lengthwise, housing your cording as close as possible to that center fold. Then, stitch as closely as possible to the cord. Your finished product will be uniquely yours!
4. If you are not using a recycled pillowcase for a liner, skip to #9.
5. Create a recycled pillowcase liner by sewing together three edges of and old king-size pillow case. Leave one short side open.
6. Turn the liner right-side out. Clip corners. Iron seams. Use a wooden chopstick or pencil to poke corners into correct shape.
7. Stuff the liner with Poly-fill. Shred, separate , and fluff the Fiber-fill as you stuff the liner. Be sure to push filler into the corners. Strive to fill the casing as evenly as possible.
8. Machine stitch the open end to close it. Flatten the casing. VOILA! You are half was finished!
9. Start your fashion fabric pillow case. Place right sides of the fabric together. Carefully sandwich the piping between the two layers of fabric, lining up the raw edges of the piping with the raw edges of the fashion fabric. Pin.
10. Starting at one long edge of your fabric, machine stitch the long end, one short edge, and the second long edge. Trim any extra piping. Remove pins. Turn case right side out. Iron seams open.
11. Carefully slide the Fiber-fill pillow into your fashion fabric case. Use fingertips to push the Fiber-fil pillow into the corners of your outside case. Smooth the pillow out to ensure even filling.
To finish, you can follow my steps unless you have a better procedure.
12. Fold the edges of your remaining pillow case edge 1/4" to create a seam.
13. Machine stitch the remaining piping onto one side of the remaining edge.
14. Close the case using the handstitching of your choice.
I am really glad that I created a liner for the Fiber-fil. It added softness to my polka dot fabric.
Enjoy your pillow!
